By John Connell

Published at 11:00, Monday, 17 December 2012

A football team’s much-needed new strip has special significance to its players.

Front, from left, Andrew Little , chairman of the Sally Glendinning Trust, kit manager Margaret McGregor, manager Stuart McGregor and assistant manager Alan Kerr

Some of the Yewdale Pegasus players went to school with Sally Glendinning who lost her battle with meningitis in 2011 aged just 17.

But now the Carlisle-based team will remember her every time they go on the pitch thanks to a strip donated in her memory through the Sally Glendinning Memorial Fund.

The lads, who have been playing football together since they were eight, have just joined the adult Sunday league.

But without help from the fund the management would have struggled to afford the gold and grey kit for their 24-strong team.

Manager Stewart McGregor said: “I had a chance conversation with one of my work mates and he is on the committee.

“He asked me how much we were looking for and I said about £50 or £100 but he came back with a cheque for £500.

“The players are over the moon. We were struggling to keep the team going.

“About five or six of them went to school with her,” he added.

“This will keep her name alive and it’s helping people she knew to do things that they want to do with their lives.”

The team paid £460 to join the league.

They also pay £13 a week for a referee fee and for training, and £100 for an affiliation fee and for insurance.

The strip will not bear Sally Glendinning’s name at the request of the fund’s committee.

However, the team will have a player of the season award in her honour.

Yewdale Pegasus train at the Richard Rose Central Academy on Tuesdays and play at the Sheepmount.

Mr McGregor said it was too early to say whether the strip had brought them any luck.

Since wearing it they have won three, drawn three and lost two.

“That isn’t bad considering they have just started out playing for the adult team,” he said.

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk